Understanding And Treating Autism

Accepting The Diagnosis Of Autism
When you hear that your child has been diagnosed with autism, the worst thoughts come to
your mind. You can feel scared, lonely and overwhelmed. All of these feelings are natural when
dealing with a new situation, but it doesn't have to be terrifying. There are many organizations
and people to help along the way. During the process of coping with the diagnosis of autism,
you may go through a mixture of feelings. Here is what to expect and the stages of dealing with
the diagnosis.
Stage 1 - Denial: This is common and usually happens immediately after you hear the
diagnosis. You could think not my child or the doctors have to be wrong. There is nothing wrong
with getting a second opinion but if a second opinion confirms what has been told, don't keep
dragging your child from doctor to doctor hoping for something different. It's important to move
past this stage of the process because denying the existence of autism isn't going to help
anyone, especially the child. The quicker parents accept the diagnosis of autism, the quicker
treatment can begin.
Stage 2 - Anger: Getting angry is a natural human emotion. There are different ways to go
through this anger. You can get mad at yourself, thinking you did something wrong. You can get
angry at God, questioning why your child has autism. You may even get mad at other parents
with healthy children, wondering why they don't have to deal with autism. The key when dealing
with anger is speaking to someone about it. Speak to someone you trust. Your doctor might be
able to refer you to a counselor who can help with these issues.
Stage 3 - Grief: Grief is a very strong emotion, but a natural one in dealing with bad news.
Feeling sad is not a bad thing though, so you should never feel guilty about feeling heartbroken.
However, don't let this emotion overwhelm you because you might transfer this onto your child
who might blame themselves, thinking they did something wrong. Working past grief is
important, but it's also a natural process. If you notice you are sitting in stage three too long or
people around you think you have been grieving too long, seek the help of a counselor.
Stage 4 - Acceptance: It may have taken some time to get to this stage, but this is the end
result in coping with the diagnosis of autism. At this point, you can finally move on with your
Understanding And Treating Autism

children and get the best care. Your child is different and this isn't a bad thing, nor should you
ever feel that way. Once you finally accept an autism diagnosis, you and your child can move on
to have a happy life. Having autism doesn't change that.
Autism can be difficult to manage, especially depending on the severity of the case. There are
services to help you, so you never have to feel overwhelmed. If you ever spend too long in any
one of the first three stages, seek counseling because those specialized in these kind of cases
will be able to help you move on. Not only is it important for parents to accept their child has
autism for their own sake, but for the child's as well. The only way to really help your child is by
accepting the course of their life.
Understanding And Treating Autism

Doctors And Diagnosing Autism
Hearing your child has autism can be a heart wrenching ordeal. Your first inclination might be to
get a second opinion and no one would stop you. However, once your child has been diagnosed
with autism, instead of looking for a way out, you should begin treatment. There are signs to
look for if you think your child might suffer from autism. If you witness any of problems or
abnormal behavior, call your doctor.
Autism is a brain development disorder and is usually diagnosed before a child turns three
years old. Here are some symptoms to look for in your child.
- If your child is showing speech regression, there might be a reason for concern. Also, if your
child is taking a long time to start talking, longer than most children at that age.
- Another problem you might see is the way your child interacts with other children. Perhaps
your child refuses to play with other children or doesn't seem to respond well in social settings,
you should visit a doctor to get more information.
If a doctor suspects a problem, they will perform a battery of tests. Every child is different, so
one test will not show if a child has autism. Every child has different symptoms and responds to
the disorder differently. Your family doctor will do a full work up with family history. If your doctor
does suspect any problems, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in autism and similar
disorders to get a proper diagnosis.
A doctor will start with ...